Recently at Reason.tv: No American Should Have to Choose Between Health Insurance and Getting Drunk

President Obama's prime-time health insurance speech underscored an important point: No American should have to choose between health insurance and paying rent, between health insurance and getting groceries--or getting drunk, getting designer jeans, or protein powder.

We hear so much about hardworking Americans who need health insurance, but what about the rest of us? Millions of uninsured Americans could afford health insurance, but it would mean giving up some really cool stuff. Support President Obama's plan to cover all Americans, because no American should have to choose between health insurance and protein powder.

Approximately 1.10 minutes. "Tough Choices" is written and produced by Ted Balaker. Director of Photography is Alex Manning.

For more information on the uninsured, go here.

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Comments

[24AheadDotCom]

What an absurdly stupid video; it's like a frat boy libertarian's view of proper public policy: let them stop eating protein powder.

P.S. Stonertarians rock!

[sage]

Shut your neck, Lonewhacko.

[Mike M.]

The pathetic scene taking place in D.C. earlier this morning is the single best argument I can think of against Obamacare.

Every time he or someone in Congress argues for government-run health care, every American should point out that this administration is too stupid and incompetent to even conduct a minor Coast Guard exercise without causing mass confusion throughout the city and government.

[Joe_D]

I realized today that my contribution to my own health insurance (not sure how much my employer pays) is less than I pay in medicare tax. This seems wrong to me.

[Haakon]

Seriously, how much does protein powder cost? What kind of point is being made here? I don't come to Reason for this kind of idiotic ramblings.

[sage]

Drink!

[WereTaco]

Cool facts rooted presentation based on a large % of the populace guy.

[bigbigslacker]

Seriously, how much does protein powder cost?

$300 per month.

[mari dupont]

Yeah, this commercial definitely needs work, but I think the underlying point is valid.

I suspect that if you compiled statistics showing how much $$$ unisured U.S. citizens currently spend on entertainment, clothes, vacations etc, the data wouldnt inspire much pity.

I guess it all comes down to what you consider a "necessity".

[Joe_D]

I talked with a guy at a company that will either pay for employees health insurance or will pay them (an amount less than the company would pay for health insurance). Many of the young workers take the money and pay healthcare costs either out of pocket or through gov't assistance. They are uninsured, but they have jobs and are not poor. I wonder how many of this terrible number of uninsured people are in such a situation.

[Pablo]

What kind of protein powder, and how much, is this guy going through every month? If I shop around online I can get a 5 lb container of the stuff for 40-50 bucks and if I use a couple of scoops per day it will last me a little over a month. He's getting majorly ripped off.

[R C Dean]

Many of the young workers take the money and pay healthcare costs either out of pocket or through gov't assistance. They are uninsured, but they have jobs and are not poor.

If they have jobs and are not poor and are still getting government assistance for health care, then they are committing fraud somewhere.

[alice bowie]

I realized today that my contribution to my own health insurance (not sure how much my employer pays) is less than I pay in medicare tax. This seems wrong to me.

It's bigger than you think. The fact is that whatever you pay, your employer matches towards the medicare tax. Which basically means that you are paying it. The employer merely pays you 3% less in Total Compensation to make up for it.

BTW...you must have a crappy policy....or you make a lot of money.

I pay $500 per month for my family healthcare thru my employer (who is self insured). I make around $175,000. And 6% of 175000 divided by 12 is $875.00. So, we're in the same boat !

[alice bowie]

But I have no problem with it.

Unlike may libertarians (which I am one ...in many ways...not a puritan, though) and conservatives ( who have NO faith in America, although they claim to be america) I have faith in America...and the American Social Contract.

I believe, and hope, that when I get old (i'm 44) that I'll be taken care of. That's why I'm happy 2 pay $857 2-day. In hope, that I'll be taken care of 2-morrow.

[alice bowie]

It's ok to call me stupid, a liberal, and a fool.

[Nick]

alice bowie, why do you assume Joe_D has a crappy policy? In my experience, people pay too much for their crappy policies (like indemnity and matrix) when they could pay far less for a more comprehensive plan. I choose to call you stupid, a liberal, and a fool because you show up here proving all three every time you talk about insurance.

You make $175k per year? More evidence there is no god.

[Alice Bowie]

There is a God Nick...You just didn't submit your application to the right one.

My god rewards me for being charitble and paying a ridculous amount towards medicare...more than I'll ever use if you libertarians/conservatives get your way.